Fire-escape.



N0. 695,l40. I I Patented Mar. ll, I902.

F. BIELHEN.

FIRE ESCAPE.

(Application filed Nov. 18, 19 1-) (NoModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

Witnesses 11-15 mmms PEYERS ca mm'aumo WASNINGTON, u c.

No. 695,140. Patented Mar. II, 11902.

F. BIELHEN.

FIRE ESCAPE.

(Application filed N bv. 1B, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets$heet 2.

FREDRICK BIELHEN, OF ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.

FlRE IESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 695,140, dated March 11, 1902. Application filed November 18, 1901. $erial No. 82,725. (No model.)

To aZZ whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDRICK BIELHEN, a citizen of the United States, residing atSt. Joseph, in the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has a special construction embracing steps arranged spirally and surrounding a central stand post or pipe, a number of these steps, with a section of such post or pipe and their railing, constituting a section of the structure adapted to be fastened to the wall or side of a building, all as will be below particularly described.

Figure 1 illustrates a front of a building with my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2, an enlarged view of one of the steps, showing its special construction and of its means of connection to the central stand-post; Fig. 3, a detail, enlarged, showing a section in line on a: of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a detail, enlarged, showing its foundation bracket as applied to and secured to a building or wall; Fig. 5, a detail showing the means of fastening the band to the steps. Fig. 6 shows a slight variation in the rough tread of the steps.

Ifirst enumerate the several parts and afterward give them in more detail.

A representsa central standard, preferably a strong column or pipe, and around which the steps are spirally attached as their main support; 13, an inclined basic or foundation pipe bracket as fastened to a side of a building or wall (3.

D is an inclined or angle saddle-casting bolted or secured to the wall at a convenient height above the ground and serves to sustain the bracket B and its elbow and the pipe-sections.

E is a bolt running into or through the wall and to or through the elbow F, forming the upper end of bracket 13, thus holding the spiral to the wall or building, as shown.

G is a separator serving to keep the steps equallydistant apart, one resting on another, as shown at Fig. 3. The separators are held to place by the pipe A on one side and by the riser N of the lower step on the other. Each separator G has projections or lugs g, turned alternately to the right and left, the angle between such lugs being for receiving the end of the riser, and at their top and bottom the separators project curvedl y, as at g to suit the perimeter of the standard A.

The step and the riser of each step and the ring 0, which surrounds the pipe A, and the rounded or beaded front edge m of the step, the downward-bent end 111. of the step, and its inner turned-up edge K are all formed from one piece of metal, say of sheet-steel or wrought-iron, one step being riveted to another, as shown.

K represents flange-couplings which permit the sections of the column or pipe or the "sections of the spiral series of steps for each .story to be bolted together.

This permits each such section or series of steps to be made at the shop or factory and be carried to the building and handled and there erected, bolted together by a flange-coupling, and for as many stories as the building may require. The pipe A serves as a water-pipe in case of fire by merely connecting suitable couplings at each story or landing, as indicated at F.

L is a step ordrop ladder hinged on the lower step, and when not in use it may be swung up, as shown in dotted lines. When swung up, it may be balanced or kept up by a cable or chain attached to it and a weight running in the pipe A or on the side of the building.

H represents steel platforms or balconies stiffened at their outer edge by being bent or crimped down and end fastened to the spiral and to the sides just under the windows and may be, as shown, on both sides of the spiral, thus affording escape from either of such windows;

R is a fire-ladder fastened at its bottom to the top of the spiral steps and .at its top to the roof of the building.

In case of need the spiral steps may be inclosed more or"less with wire-netting, as shown. This netting can be supported at top by the pipe hand-railing S and at the bottom by the steps, or, if desired, by the'steel band T, this band being riveted to the steps, as presently to be stated. The ends of the handrails are fastened to the pipe-post t and to the side of the building, as shown at V. These posts t and the bands T are spirally fastened to the outer edges of the steps serve to support and stiffen the steps. The tread or top of the steps is perforated, as shown, to prevent snow or ice accumulating on the steps.

In punching these perforations m I punch them from the under side, either entirely through, as seenin Fig. 2, or not entirelycut through, as seen in Fig. 6', so that each hole shall have at the upper side of the step asort of bur or rough edge or crimp, serving to roughen enough the step to prevent slipping. The broad outer part of the treads of the steps M are as shown in Figs. 2 and 5 and bent downward, as at m, to afford a strong means for securing or bolting thereto the band T. This band not only stiifens and holds the steps straight and at equal distance apart, but also binds the outer edge of each step, thus making a complete tread.

Each riser may be made open-work of any desired pattern-for instance, a set of large round ho1es-thus diminishing greatly the aggregate weight of the structure withoutimpairing its strength and efficiency.

I claim- 1. A step for a spiral fire-escape, formed in one piece of sheet metal or wrought-iron, and

having the following characteristics, namely: .lIS top or tread roughened by burred punchholes, and having the upturned edge K punctured for bolts and having at its inner end an opening to receive a supporting tubular column, and beaded at its edge, and having the .downward part m, and its riser punctured for beingbolted to the next lower step, all as shown and described.

2. Combined with a set of metallic steps disposed around a central tubular support, the castings G at their top and bottom made .to fit the exterior curve of such support and provided with rows of alternatingprojecting lugs g as shown, adapted to receive and embrace within the angles between such lugs the inner end of the riser of the steps, such castings forming also distance-pieces between each two adjacent steps, all as shown and described.

3. In combination with the metal steps each having a downward part m, at its outer end, the spiral band T bolted or secured to such part m, as and for the purposes set forth.

4. Combined with the outer edges of the spiral series of steps, the bands T, the posts j, and the pipe hand-railing S, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In aspiral fire-escape, complete sections thereof for each story of a building and ready to be applied to the wall of the building and bolted together and having each portion of the central supporting-columnprovided with a flange-coupling as described, and whereby one section may be secured to another similar complete section, all as shown and described.

6. In a spiral fire-escape having a central tubular support, the combination with said support, of the inclined or angular casting D, adapted to be secured in a wall of a building and above its base, an inclined support or bracket B, sustained on said casting, a

flanged elbow F, on said bracket connected or bolted to the main tubular support, and a bolt securing the elbow to the wall as set forth. In testimony whereof-I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDRIOK BIELI IEN.

Witnesses:

HENRY BIELHEN, AUGUST A. ROHLMANN. 

